Depth of Deceit
on Amazon.com
Blonde and beautiful, fledging attorney Stephanie Saunders vows to protect the innocent even though as indigent defense attorney her clients rarely are. Does that include Josh Durrant who seems to be following her? Stephanie is dismayed when her peers begin calling her “Prom Queen” as her boyfriend, Todd Saxton, often does. Desperately trying to prove her worth, she falls prey to those who steal her innocence. Although she plans to forgive Todd for his ultimate betrayal, she is never given the chance. Her boss, Attorney Charles Connelly, offers solace, but is Stephanie’s welfare, or his own, top priority? The only thing that keeps Stephanie sane in her insane world are the horses she loves but does not own, especially the abused mare, Riskie Business, whose example helps Stephanie make the most difficult decision of her life. Relying on wit and courage, Stephanie must save herself and another during the final showdown where she proves a loyalty of which she never knew herself capable.
2010 Winner of the Silver Quill for second place
in the Fiction category for the League of Utah Writers
Publication Awards.
Depth of Deceit Book Trailer
Endorsements
Betty Briggs is a talented author and Depth of
Deceit is a great novel for those readers who like
a protagonist you can identify with and with whom,
despite all difficulties, you can actually enjoy the
company. As we’re swept along in a gripping depiction of
real world problems, Stephanie Saunders, a smart, tough,
vibrant and yet vulnerable attorney is determined to
“get real” in an unreal “this can’t be happening to me”
story.
Although, admittedly, a little bit glad her problems
aren’t ours, how could we not find ourselves pulling for
Stephanie all the way, from the first chapter to the
last.
-- Ron Kenner, former Los Angeles Times Metro Staff Writer, Author and Editor of RKedit
The heroine of Depth of Deceit is plucky young attorney, Stephanie Saunders, who has a rich, handsome young man in her life, a career in a decent law firm, and a horse-riding hobby. And, oh yes, she has a mysterious shaggy-haired stranger who comes into her life and causes a few flutters. But like the layers of an onion, Depth of Deceit gradually peels away the veneer to reveal something much more tantalizing below the surface. Pity the poor reader who picks up Depth of Deceit at bedtime. They’re in for a long night, as this is one of those books that, once started, can’t be put down. It all comes together in a rapid-fire ending that will make for an intriguing film someday.
-- Bruce Haring, Managing Director, Hollywood Book Festival
Briggs’ narrative is engaging and capably written. Stephanie’s stamina and determination make her a strong central character who hooks readers from the first page.
-- Kirkus Discoveries
Betty Briggs does it again—combines romance and mystery genres with educational horse care information. Going beyond her previous YA novels, she writes an adult story filled with modern issues … She does this throughout a seamless plot that is both complex as well as logical without giving away the twists too soon. The twists and turns of this story are amazing. Just when the reader believes she’s figured out what’s coming next, BAM, we didn’t see that coming! We graded this can’t put down read five hearts.
--Bob Spear, Publisher & Chief Reviewer
Heartland Reviews
-- Ron Kenner, former Los Angeles Times Metro Staff Writer, Author and Editor of RKedit
The heroine of Depth of Deceit is plucky young attorney, Stephanie Saunders, who has a rich, handsome young man in her life, a career in a decent law firm, and a horse-riding hobby. And, oh yes, she has a mysterious shaggy-haired stranger who comes into her life and causes a few flutters. But like the layers of an onion, Depth of Deceit gradually peels away the veneer to reveal something much more tantalizing below the surface. Pity the poor reader who picks up Depth of Deceit at bedtime. They’re in for a long night, as this is one of those books that, once started, can’t be put down. It all comes together in a rapid-fire ending that will make for an intriguing film someday.
-- Bruce Haring, Managing Director, Hollywood Book Festival
Briggs’ narrative is engaging and capably written. Stephanie’s stamina and determination make her a strong central character who hooks readers from the first page.
-- Kirkus Discoveries
Betty Briggs does it again—combines romance and mystery genres with educational horse care information. Going beyond her previous YA novels, she writes an adult story filled with modern issues … She does this throughout a seamless plot that is both complex as well as logical without giving away the twists too soon. The twists and turns of this story are amazing. Just when the reader believes she’s figured out what’s coming next, BAM, we didn’t see that coming! We graded this can’t put down read five hearts.
--Bob Spear, Publisher & Chief Reviewer
Heartland Reviews
Excerpt from the Book
“How do you plead, Mr.
Ortega, guilty or not guilty?” Judge Anderson asked.
Mr.? Carlos Ortega was about as far from being a Mr. as Stephanie was from being an Olympic show-jumping rider. She grimaced and shifted in her seat to a more comfortable position, pulling the navy blue skirt of her fitted pin-striped suit to rest at the top of her knees. The pain in her hip from this morning’s fall made her a little dizzy. The over-the-counter medicine she’d taken earlier proved unsuccessful.
“Not guilty, Your Honor.” Ortega stood on one leg, then the other.
Do you have an attorney?” Judge Anderson asked.
Ortega looked as if he needed a good bath. Stephanie caught his rancid scent and her stomach lurched.
“No, Your Honor,” the man replied. “Can’t afford one.”
“Okay. Trial is set for . . .” The judge glanced at his clerk seated behind her desk just in front of him.
“April 22nd at 9:00 a.m.,” said the middle-aged woman in the lavender skirt and sweater with earrings and lipstick to match.
“April 22nd at 9:00 a.m.,” Judge Anderson repeated. “You’ll be provided with indigent defense counsel.” He glanced up from the papers on his desk. “Miss Saunders?”
“H . . . her?” Mr. Ortega stammered, brow wrinkled.
Judge Anderson frowned. “Yes, her.”
“Can’t I have a real attorney?” He glanced at Stephanie, then back at the judge.
“What do you mean real attorney?” The judge narrowed his eyes. “Miss Saunders is a member of the Bar.”
“I don’t care if she drinks, but––” Mr. Ortega stopped talking when one of the female defendants giggled.
The judge peeked down his nose at her and she immediately sobered. Then he leveled his gaze at Mr. Ortega. “Do you have a legitimate reason for not wanting Miss Saunders?”
“Well she looks like a––”
Stephanie found herself leaning forward in her chair.
“What is it, Mr. Ortega?” Judge Anderson grumbled, clearly out of patience.
“Well, she looks like a––well, I don’t know. A skinny Brittany Spears or somethin’. Can’t I have a smart attorney?”
Stephanie’s mouth fell open. Smart! She was smart. Well, probably smarter than Mr. Ortega. Why was it that people, mostly men, actually, failed to take her seriously? Sure, she was young and inexperienced, but couldn’t they just give her a chance? It was as if the other attorneys felt that a woman who was halfway decent to look at, and okay, blonde, had no brains. They had even started referring to her as “prom queen.” Stephanie wanted to strangle her boyfriend, Todd, for calling her that in front of them once and setting off the whole thing. And having actually been a “prom queen” twice in high school hadn’t soothed her a bit. One of these first free days, Stephanie swore, she would dye her hair black.
Now it was “Brittany Spears,” a “skinny” Brittany Spears. At least he’d said “skinny.”
Mr.? Carlos Ortega was about as far from being a Mr. as Stephanie was from being an Olympic show-jumping rider. She grimaced and shifted in her seat to a more comfortable position, pulling the navy blue skirt of her fitted pin-striped suit to rest at the top of her knees. The pain in her hip from this morning’s fall made her a little dizzy. The over-the-counter medicine she’d taken earlier proved unsuccessful.
“Not guilty, Your Honor.” Ortega stood on one leg, then the other.
Do you have an attorney?” Judge Anderson asked.
Ortega looked as if he needed a good bath. Stephanie caught his rancid scent and her stomach lurched.
“No, Your Honor,” the man replied. “Can’t afford one.”
“Okay. Trial is set for . . .” The judge glanced at his clerk seated behind her desk just in front of him.
“April 22nd at 9:00 a.m.,” said the middle-aged woman in the lavender skirt and sweater with earrings and lipstick to match.
“April 22nd at 9:00 a.m.,” Judge Anderson repeated. “You’ll be provided with indigent defense counsel.” He glanced up from the papers on his desk. “Miss Saunders?”
“H . . . her?” Mr. Ortega stammered, brow wrinkled.
Judge Anderson frowned. “Yes, her.”
“Can’t I have a real attorney?” He glanced at Stephanie, then back at the judge.
“What do you mean real attorney?” The judge narrowed his eyes. “Miss Saunders is a member of the Bar.”
“I don’t care if she drinks, but––” Mr. Ortega stopped talking when one of the female defendants giggled.
The judge peeked down his nose at her and she immediately sobered. Then he leveled his gaze at Mr. Ortega. “Do you have a legitimate reason for not wanting Miss Saunders?”
“Well she looks like a––”
Stephanie found herself leaning forward in her chair.
“What is it, Mr. Ortega?” Judge Anderson grumbled, clearly out of patience.
“Well, she looks like a––well, I don’t know. A skinny Brittany Spears or somethin’. Can’t I have a smart attorney?”
Stephanie’s mouth fell open. Smart! She was smart. Well, probably smarter than Mr. Ortega. Why was it that people, mostly men, actually, failed to take her seriously? Sure, she was young and inexperienced, but couldn’t they just give her a chance? It was as if the other attorneys felt that a woman who was halfway decent to look at, and okay, blonde, had no brains. They had even started referring to her as “prom queen.” Stephanie wanted to strangle her boyfriend, Todd, for calling her that in front of them once and setting off the whole thing. And having actually been a “prom queen” twice in high school hadn’t soothed her a bit. One of these first free days, Stephanie swore, she would dye her hair black.
Now it was “Brittany Spears,” a “skinny” Brittany Spears. At least he’d said “skinny.”
